BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to evaluate the treatment of circumferential hemorrhoids using the CO2 laser. METHOD: Five hundred seventy-two consecutive patients with circumferential hemorrhoids(411 males, 161 females) had hemorrhoidectomy performed with CO2 laser under caudal or epidural anesthesia during the 2 year-period between July 1994 and June 1996. The follow-up period was a minimum of 3 months after hemorrhoidectomy. The standard Milligan-Morgan open technique was used for most full three-quadrant hemorrhoidectomies. For the excision of necessary piles, "core-ablation" technique was employed. RESULTS: The postoperative pain lasted for an average of 2.10 days. Comlications of hemorrhoidectomy included Postoperative skin tags, bleeding, wound infection, delayed wound healing, urinary retention and anal fistula in only a few of the cases, none of which caused any long-term problems. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that CO2 laser hemorrhoidectomy is feasible and safe provided it is used with care, and that it seems to cause no significant alteration in anorectal physiology.
Anesthesia, Epidural ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhoidectomy ; Hemorrhoids* ; Humans ; Laser Therapy* ; Lasers, Gas ; Male ; Pain, Postoperative ; Physiology ; Rectal Fistula ; Skin ; Urinary Retention ; Wound Healing ; Wound Infection